Health professionals across Missouri are seeing a nearly 10-times increase in the number of patients reporting flu-like symptoms, already ahead of the typical flu season peak of the winter and spring months.

But while cases are up statewide, there has been no such spike in local cases reported by the Adair County Health Department.

Across the state, 451 cases of flu-like symptoms were reported in the past week, bringing the season total to 2,088 confirmed cases. That represents an about 10-times increase over the five-year average of about 210.

Nearly half of those season-total cases were reported in children ages 5 to 14, about 3,000 percent higher than average.

But locally, the Adair County Health Department has only seen six cases of flu-like symptoms, with five being infections of Influenza A and one of Influenza B.

“Theoretically it usually peaks in January and February,” said Lori Guffey, R.N., with the department.

The department has issued about 3,200 flu vaccinations thus far on the season, one of the possible factors in Adair County’s lower numbers, Guffey said.

“It could be many reasons,” she said. “People were vaccinated more. There are several factors due to population and we had the drive-through flu clinic. We’ve given a lot of vaccine this year. It’s hard to pin-point one thing.”